H.—l9b.

H. R. POTTER.]

15

472. At what time in the morning? —The sick-parade has been lately at 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. 473. They are marched down to the medical lines: what happens then? ; —They are handed over to the Medical Officer on duty. 474. But do they all stand in a row and wait their turns?— The medical men occupy the marquee, and these men go in in turn. 475. One at a time? —According to the number of Medical Officers on duty. 476. And what do the others do in the meantime? —In fine weather they are simply left standing there. 477. Standing in a row? —Four or two deep. 478. In. bad weather what do they do?— They get into the marquees. 479. There are empty marquees there? —There have always been three or four there. 480. The Chairman!] That can be used for shelter?— Yes. 481. What are they used for ordinarily? —They are put down there for the use of the medical people. 482. Mr. Salmond.] But are they intended as shelters from the rain?— Yes. 483. Is there any reason why the sick men should stand out in the rain while on sick-parade? —Unless we had phenomenal sickness which would overtax those marquees, then if a man took very bad he could be taken away on a stretcher. 484. Why should these marquees not be used by these sick men whether the weather is bad or good?— Because the men prefer to stand out in the open in the sun if it is fine. 485. The Chairman.] Because a man is in the sick-parade it does not mean necessarily that he is suffering from an illness: he might have a sore finger?—-Yes; it might be any sort of ache or pain. 486. It does not follow that it might be made worse by his being in the rain or wet?—No; it might be from measles down to toothache. 487. Mr. Salmond.] Is there a system of medical inspection of the troops apart from this sick-parade?—No; there has not been, barring for inoculation. A man is medically examined when he conies into camp, and there is no other inspection. 488. So that if a man had a high temperature during this epidemic when he woke up in the morning, what would happen to him?—He would immediately report sick when the sickparade is sounded at 8.30. 489. He would go down?—He would march down with the others. 490. He would have to go to the doctor —tlie doctor would not come to him? —That is so, unless he was very bad, and then they would take a stretcher to him. . 491.. If he were able to get out he would have to do so ? —Yes. 492. Dr. Martin.] If a man got ill at any time and asked for a doctor he would always be attended? —Yes, certainly; his officer would see to that. 493. Mr. Salmond.] As to these measles patients, did the doctor go to see them, or did they have to go to see the doctor?—lhey went to see the doctor. 494. In the middle of winter?— Yes. 495. How long would they have to wait standing in a row outside the doctor's office?— That I cannot say. 496. Have you ever been present at a sick-parade? —Only lately, when I heard the men had waited there. 497. How often have you been there? —Once. 498. How many men. were there? —There must have been, roughly speaking, about seventy men. 499. Outside?— Outside. They could have gone into the marquees, but it was a fine day, and there were no men in the marquees. 500. This was at 8.30 a.m. ?—No, in the afternoon. 501. You have never been at the morning parade?— No. 502. How long did the dootors take to get through this seventy men?—l do not know. When I saw what was happening I gave the doctors a hut for the sick-parade. 503. So that all the men up to a certain number would be able to get into the hut?— Yes. The hut holds fifty for sleeping, but it would hold four hundred for meals. 504. The marquees that you mentioned would not have been big enough? —Yes, except on a wet day. It would have been very uncomfortable on a wet, day. It has only been since this epidemic that, our sick-parades have been large. 505. The Chairman.] It was only during the epidemic?— That is so. 506. Mr. Salmond.] And did this method continue right through the sick-parades?— No. 507. Had you a hut ready to hand over for the purpose? —Yes; I gave them the hut. 508. The Chairman.] What was the date of that?—l could not give you that, but T can get it for you. It was only during the latter part of the sickness, of course. 509. Did the medical men ever apply to you for further accommodation or anything of the kind? —They have never applied to me. 510. Mr. Salmond.] You gave the hut on your own account : you were not asked for it?— That is so. T told the Quartermaster to let them have it. 511. Did you communicate with the medical men on the subject?— They were there at the time. 512. Did you have any talk with the medical men about, the practice of bringing these men down on the sick-parade?—-No. 513. Something must, have been said about it? —Yes, when I was down there. 514. The Chairman.] This occurred since Colonel Moriee was there? —Yes, [ asked him, and he said he would like to have the hut there.